Record holiday travel expected

More than 70 million Americans are forecast to travel at least 50 miles.

Busy roads, airports and train stations are expected as record travel is being forecast for the Fourth of July weekend.

Motor club AAA projects roughly 70.9 million travelers will head 50 miles or more from their homes over a nine-day Independence Day travel period — surpassing pre-pandemic numbers for the U.S. holiday.

“This is historically going to be the most traveled Independence Day on record,” AAA spokeswoman Tiffany Stanley said.

Stanley said 2024 is the first year that AAA has measured the July 4 travel period as two weekends, and because the holiday falls on a Thursday this year, more people are expected to take extended trips.

“Not only are the numbers higher because we’re including two weekends and because people are taking that extended vacation, but also the demand for travel is very high,” Stanley said.

For those traveling by car for the Fourth of July, it’s best to hit the road in the morning, according to transportation data and insights provider INRIX. Peak traffic congestion varies by location, INRIX data published by AAA shows, but the worst times to drive on, or leading up to, the holiday are generally between 2 and 7 p.m.

“Road trips over the holiday week could take up to 67% longer than normal,” Bob Pishue, transportation analyst at INRIX, said in a statement. “Drivers in large metro areas can expect the worst traffic delays on Wednesday, July 3, as they leave town, and Sunday, July 7, as they return. Road trips over the holiday week could take up to 67% longer than normal. Travelers should monitor 511 services, local news stations, and traffic apps for up-to-the-minute road conditions.”

INRIX advised drivers to hit the road in the morning. Travelers returning on July 8 should avoid rush hour traffic in the morning and afternoon.

Pishue added that drivers in large metro areas should expect delays from Wednesday to Sunday. Renting a car will be busiest Friday, Saturday and Wednesday before the holiday, according to AAA.

“With summer vacations in full swing and the flexibility of remote work, more Americans are taking extended trips around Independence Day,” Paula Twidale, senior vice president of AAA said in a release. “We anticipate this July 4th week will be the busiest ever with an additional 5.7 million people traveling compared to 2019.”

Officials with the Pennsylvania Turnpike released an advisory in anticipation for a surge in traveler numbers over the holiday.

Turnpike officials predict more than 5 million vehicles will travel the roadway during the 10-day stretch before, during and after July 4, according to the release.

A spokesperson for the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission told our news partners at WTAE that July 4 is one of the most dangerous times of the year for highway traffic.

“Safety is a priority for all of us at the turnpike and we expect that from drivers as well,” turnpike spokesperson Chris Havener said. “Don’t speed, and make sure you’re not driving recklessly and paying attention to the road at all times. Since the start of the pandemic, a lot more people have been driving distracted when out on the road.”

Extra Pennsylvania State Police patrols will saturate the highway to ensure safe HOLIDAY TRAVEL •A2

“We anticipate this July 4th week will be the busiest ever with an additional 5.7 million people traveling compared to 2019.”

PAULA TWIDALE

SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF AAA driving practices. Road construction on the turnpike will be suspended during the 10 days to give drivers access to as many lanes as possible.

Local police and fire departments told the Mon Valley Independent that they will proceed with July 4 just like every other day.

Air travel

Airports will also likely be packed all week long, but the Transportation Security Administration expects most people will take to the skies on Friday, according to the Associated Press According to a press release, TSA screened 2.99 million passengers nationwide on June 23. That’s the highest daily total in TSA history.

“We expect this summer to be our busiest ever,” TSA Administrator David Pekoske told the Associated Press, adding that air travel typically peaks around Independence Day.

Pittsburgh International Airport saw nearly 20,000 passengers pass through security checkpoints on June 24, which is the highest daily total since the airport began tallying the number of passengers pass through in 2019.

TSA expects to screen more than 32 million individuals in airports from Thursday through Monday, up more than 5% from last year’s numbers.

TSA anticipates it will screen more than 3 million individuals Friday. That would surpass the agency’s current record for most people screened on a single day, which reached just under 3 million last Sunday.

Last year, the busiest day for Fourth of July air travel was also the Friday ahead of the holiday, TSA data shows.

After Independence Day on July 8, travelers with TSA PreCheck will be directed to an alternate security checkpoint in order to reduce long lines and wait times, according to a release.

Signs in the terminal will inform travelers of the change and direct them to where they need to go. This change comes amid a summer travel surge with more travelers passing through security checkpoints at airports across the country.

In April, the Biden administration issued final rules that include requiring airlines to provide automatic cash refunds within a few days for canceled flights and “significant” delays. Those rules are set to take effect over the next two years, but the Department of Transportation has a site that lets consumers see the commitments each airline has made for refunds and covering other expenses when flights are canceled or significantly delayed.